Insurance

Fine Print and Red Tape in Long-Term Care Policies

June 7, 2013 · Mark Reback

One of the big reasons people buy long-term care <a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/your-money/insurance/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier" title="More articles about insurance.">insurance</a> is to avoid burdening a spouse or grown children when they can no longer care for themselves. But some family members are shouldering another type of burden: one that involves piles of paperwork and repeated phone calls, as they are forced to navigate a labyrinth of requirements to collect benefits that the insured spent many years paying.

The Battle Will Be Televised

June 5, 2013 · Mark Reback

With so much competition, why does L.A.’s big cable provider, Time Warner, charge so much?

California Consumer-Advocacy Group’s Executive Steps Down

May 31, 2013 · Mark Reback

Nonprofit advocacy group Consumer Watchdog issued an email this afternoon announcing that its executive director is leaving, effective immediately. Doug Heller is stepping down after 16 years with the Santa Monica-based organization best known for its battles with the insurance industry. As Consumer Watchdog's executive director, Heller was the oft-quoted face of the group for the last nine years.

California Health Exchange Reveals Premium Costs, Insurers

May 24, 2013 · Mark Reback

California's newly created health exchange announced the bottom line on its insurance policies and rates Thursday, bringing sharper focus to family impacts of next year's health care overhaul. Thirteen companies were selected to sell policies for the individual market through Covered California, a state-owned marketplace for comparing prices of coverage with identical benefits but different networks of doctors.

Auto Club To Cut Automobile Insurance Rates For 1 Million Customers

May 23, 2013 · Mark Reback

The average policyholder will see a $65 reduction in his or her annual bill. It's the Auto Club of Southern California's fourth rate decrease in the last nine years. About 1 million customers of the Automobile Club of Southern California will get an average $65 reduction in their annual car insurance bills, the auto club and the state Insurance Department announced. The total rate cut for all motorists came to $70 million, or 4.1%, for policies that start or renew after July 1.

Health Insurance: California’s New Marketplace Picks 13 Plans To Offer Coverage In 2014

May 23, 2013 · Mark Reback

In another major step toward national health reform, California on Thursday unveiled a list of insurers who will offer coverage through the state's new health exchange marketplace, providing the first glimpse into plans and prices for up to 5.3 million people not covered by employers. Anthem Blue Cross of California, Blue Shield of California, Kaiser Permanente and a group of smaller regional providers will offer a variety of health plans.

Tesoro Is Cleared To Buy BP’s Carson Refinery, Arco Stations

May 20, 2013 · Mark Reback

Tesoro won U.S. and state clearance to buy BP's Carson refinery, Arco stations and other assets for $2.4 billion. Consumer advocates object.

Mercury Insurance Loses Part Of Challenge Over Homeowner Rates

May 9, 2013 · Mark Reback

Huge insurer Mercury Insurance Group has lost part of its ongoing legal challenge over homeowners insurance rates. Sacramento Superior Court rejected Mercury's petition to delay implementing a rate decrease ordered by state regulators. As a result, about 270,000 Californians who insure their homes through Mercury will save more than $16.5 million, according to a California Department of Insurance news release.

Google’s Income Tax Rate Was Only 8 Percent

April 19, 2013 · John M. Simpson

<img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2519" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/images_googleevil2-75x75.jpg" style="width: 150px; height: 150px; float: right;" width="75" height="75" />Google, the company that makes its money by assembling digital dossiers about its users and selling them to advertisers for the highest bid, <a href="http://investor.google.com/earnings/2013/Q1_google_earnings.html">reported earnings</a> Thursday. Revenue increased 31 percent to $13.97 billion and net income in the first quarter rose 16 percent to $3.35 billion, or $9.94 a share.

California Turns to Consumer Group for Help with Health Insurance Rates Review

April 4, 2013 · Mark Reback

The California insurance department has called on Consumer Watchdog to help review health insurance rates increases following Commissioner Dave Jones' censure of Anthem Blue Cross L&H Insurance Co.'s small-group rate increases, the Los Angeles Times reported April 3. The insurance department and Consumer Watchdog inked a one-year contract, which could amount to about $88,000, under which the consumer group will supplement the department's own rates review.

State Hires Consumer Group To Help Review Health Insurance Rates

April 4, 2013 · Mark Reback

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones has irritated the insurance industry and surprised public-policy analysts by hiring Consumer Watchdog, a vocal insurance industry critic, to assist in reviewing health insurance rate increases, the<a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-0403-insurance-critic-hired-20130403,0,5476273.story" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Los Angeles Times</a> reports. In a one-year contract worth up to $88,000, Consumer Watchdog will supplement the rate review process already done by the insurance department. From the Los Angeles Times:

Insurers Cry Foul As State Official Hires Foe

April 3, 2013 · Mark Reback

The commissioner's enlistment of Consumer Watchdog to help review health rates raises eyebrows. Callifornia Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones lashed out Tuesday at another double-digit rate hike for thousands of small businesses getting their health insurance from industry giant Anthem Blue Cross.

Prop 103 California Insurance Reform

New Bill Requires Insurance Companies to Offer and Renew Insurance Coverage for Fire-Safe Homes

Homeowners Dropped by Insurers